The Only Rule

Chapter 10b: Beat Around The Bush

Suddenly, he lunged at you! His lips crashing into yours with a force. Your body stiffened as your hands instinctively slammed against his chest—shoving him hard! But he’s too strong—his hands gripping your arms—preventing you from walking away! His kisses—he’s eating you, lips devouring yours in desperate urgency you can’t even fight back. You want to scream, but Raymond’s desperate voice cuts through in ragged breaths.

“I can’t have you with somebody else—”

“Ray—! Stop—” you tried to protest, but his thin lips didn’t stop. As if all the longing.. the pent-up frustration—was unleashed in a reckless wave.

Maybe it’s something about the familiarity. Maybe it’s his scent—maybe it’s just.. him. The warmth of his kiss.. the way his hands held you—and you’re back in the past, and it felt.. normal. This familiarity—f**k this familiarity. You feel yourself falling back into the same old patterns. Into a strange comfort that came from years of being with him. But still.. your mind screaming that this is wrong.

This. Again.

This never-ending cycle.

From the bush, Hunt froze. His smile disappeared. Hearing your struggle, he quickly popped his head out, all senses on high alert. His body tensed, only seconds away from storming over and drag the asshole off you—

But he saw your hands fall away. The resistance shifted as he saw you placed your hands on his chest—while that asshole cupped your face in the most longing way a man could ever feel. The sounds of their kissing—once full of struggle—now seemed.. different—softer. And your soft moan—Dominic could hear it piercing through his phone—the sound of you.. giving in.

His heart dropped.

Hunt’s jaw clenched, grip tightened around the leaves in front of him, crushing them in his fists—but it quickly loosened.. and he pulled the phone away from his ear. He stared down at it—thank God it’s not on speaker, if I kept hearing them I’d f*****g—

When a strange sadness flickered in his eyes. He sank back against the bush. His eyes darted around the bush as if searching for a way to escape—but there was nowhere to go. His chest tightened as he looked down at the ground, hands balled into fists. The whole thing felt.. wrong. He didn’t know why, but it did. Why did it feel like his heart was being.. twisted?

But then a surge of something coursed through him. He felt his body heating up, adrenaline racing through his veins. His ragged breathing almost synchronized with the sound of their kissing—and then, without a second thought, Dominic’s head pops over the bush, eyes glaring at them as his phone stacked on his ear. And with a loudest rage, he roared—

“NONONO! REN—BE f*****g SMART FOR ONCE!!!”

Your eyes snapped open—you gasped! The fog in your mind lifted as you pushed Lee sharply—jumping away! He blinked at you, startled—but your gaze immediately darted behind to the bush—

“USE YOUR HEAD YOU i***t!” Dominic’s voice roared through the chaos.

You stood still, frozen in confused shock. Raymond looked around—his eyes darting as if he’d heard something.. In urgent motion, he stepped closer to you, almost as if about to ask if you’re hearing the same thing—

But you butt him in the head!

“ARGH!” he screamed in pain, stumbled back—clutching his forehead!

From the bush, Dominic scoffed an amused scoff, echoing throughout the whole campus. A big grin painted his instant euphoric face. “Not exactly what I had in mind—but—not bad—” However, catching you wince—also cradling your head in pain—he went alert, eyes narrowing as he hissed, “Ok now tell him to f**k off!”

Still grimacing, hand pressing against your forehead, you shot Raymond a glare, “Get—GET THE f**k AWAY FROM ME!!!”

And without any more cue, Raymond turned and bolted—even stumbled right into the fountain. In horror, he scrambled back to his feet, now soaked. Without taking a backward glance, he ran for his life. All horniness left his pants to the coolness of the fountain—and the taste of your majestic headbutt of course.

Wide eyed, you watched, realization dawning on you that this was the first time you’d stood up to him so definitively. Then you turned—just in time to see Hunt emerge from the bush, laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath—like he just witnessed the best soap opera of the century.

“YEAH!!! YOU GO, PARADIS! LET’S f*****g GO!!!”

Dominic’s voice rang out from behind you as he cheered, fists punching the air. You tried to keep your cool, walking confidently—still glancing to the back. Once you’re sure your ex was nowhere in sight, you broke into a run, couldn’t hold back a huge grin.

Meanwhile, Dominic, still half-hidden behind the bush with a mischievous grin, ended the call, mumbling to himself, “The f**k just happened,” before continuing his grin, welcoming you. He couldn’t help but laugh another big laugh as he saw you giddily run to him, his body slightly crouched in anticipation—

When you slammed your body against him—holding him tightly to the point he let out an ‘oof!’ You both lose balance, tumbling into the bush and then into the ground. Breathless, exhilarated, you clung to him, bouncing slightly as laughter and excitement spilled out in a giddy wave. “I didn’t know what happened but I remember the chant and—we—we did it! We actually did it! Ohmygod—thank you so much!” you screamed, voice muffled as you buried your face on his shoulder.

Scoffing in amusement, he laughed, hugging you back just as tightly. “You did it,” he chuckled, a smile lingered with his rare praise. His embrace loosened ever so slightly as he rested his hands on your back, fingers moving in gentle circles just upon your waist. A few chuckles escaped both of your lips.. but not until an awkward silence lingered in the air, thickening with something unsaid as the two of you wondered how neither of you wanted to let go.

After what almost felt like forever.. you reluctantly pulled away slightly. And when you finally leaned back just a little, still grinning, your eyes met his. An involuntary laugh escaped the two of you—a nervous one this time. Darting his gaze to your forehead, he chuckled, “It’s red.”

Pouting, you teasingly narrowed your eyes on him, trying to blame it on the instructor—but the words just. don't. come. As the silence kept on deafening.. the pounding of your beating hearts followed. Or maybe it’s just because you're too close—heck, your chest was literally one right now for God’s sake.

At the thought, your slight smile faltered. Now.. even the slightest move from any of you made your heart beat faster. Your breath hitched—the sound of his ringing beautifully in your ears.

His playful gaze turned into something else as you notice his smile softened.. then faltered too. Reluctantly, almost instinctively.. Dominic reached up—fingers grazing around the purplish bruise on your forehead. The touch sent a sudden rush of warmth washed through you—funny how despite the warmth, shivers also made their way down your spine. Then.. his low voice, almost hoarse, cut through the quiet.

“Does it hurt?”

Concern lingered on his eyes as they traced the details of your face—from the bruise.. to your left eye.. the right.. back again—until.. it landed on your lips.

You see him gulped and your heart hammered in your chest, frozen. Your hands that've been resting on his neck curled up, unconsciously clenching the hem of his gray sweatshirt. His gaze turned drowsy as you could hear his breath hitched. You can’t help but bit your lips while you reluctantly nodded—

And it seemed like it switched something in him, because you can feel the way his hands pressed down on your back firmer than before.. His touch turned possessive as his fingers traced along your spine. The way it moved from your waist.. up.. the way his fingers now slowly clenched on your back—almost sinking deep to your skin like a claw—

Your brows knitted, heat searing through you—the way his fingers pressed against your back like he’s holding something almost made you gasp—

But then he clenched the fabric of your shirt—as if grounding himself—and he cleared his throat, “Ok you—you did it—”

Taking the hint, you quickly garnered your thoughts and fixed yourself—shifting to sit upright. “Y—yeah, I..” you trailed off, glancing away, still figuring out what you were feeling. Awkwardly, he bounced his eyebrows, but still, his eyes’ the same—not daring to meet yours.

Finally, you smiled, trying to brush off the tension. “So.. you’ll call me?” you asked—however quickly cursing to yourself by the sudden straightforwardness.

Dominic blinked, momentarily surprised. But then.. the familiar smirk formed on his face. His gaze searched through your face, before he winked and said,

“You bet I would, love.”